The Silverback Gorillas

Their Significance and Function

What is a silverback gorilla? An adult male mountain gorilla is referred to as a “Silverback” when he develops a grey stretch of hair along his back as a result of aging.

The majority of Silverbacks are either lone gorillas, group dominant, or adversaries who are competing for group dominance.

The daily operations of the organization are overseen by a Silverback. They establish the group’s travel routes, foraging locations, resting points, and the construction of nests for nocturnal sleep.

During your gorilla trekking excursions, you will observe that they are the most aggressive of all mountain gorillas.

What is a silverback gorilla?

The dominant Silverback mates with all of the females in the group and prohibits any other Silverbacks or juveniles from doing the same.

This is the reason why mature non-dominant Silverbacks either migrate to establish their own families or engage in combat with the dominating Silverback to regain control.

Additionally, they can acquire mating rights and produce their own progeny.

The survival of their families is the responsibility of silverbacks. They will fight to safeguard their families, even if it results in their death, in the event of any peril.

In the event of danger, silverbacks also employ sign language to communicate with the complete group.

Male gorillas are taller and weigh more than their female counterparts.

Silverback gorillas consume approximately 30 kilograms of food per day, with females consuming up to 18 kilograms of vegetation.

A Silverback has a total of 26 ribs, which are comprised of a set of 13 ribs.

A single rib is heavier than a human being. Some of them are inclined to murder young adult males (Juveniles) when they emerge victorious in a conflict and assume control of a family.

This is due to their desire to circumvent potential obstacles in the future.

Silverback gorillas during a trek
Visit Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to gain a deeper understanding of Silverbacks.

The cost of gorilla trekking varies across all countries.

Children under the age of 15 and those who are ailing are prohibited from trekking mountain gorillas.

Engaging in any other ordinary activity or going on a game excursion is not the same as trekking mountain gorillas.

It is necessary to hike to the mountain slopes in order to locate these primates. In addition, you will require a set of gorilla trekking gear, which includes hiking footwear, garden gloves, warm clothing, raincoats, sunscreens, insect repellents, energy snacks, and drinking water.

The climates of mountain gorilla national parks are comparable.

Gorillas are most accessible during the arid season, which spans from June to September and December to February.

The gorilla trekking activity may be disrupted during the wet season due to the impassibility of certain highways leading to the national parks.

Additionally, the trekking trails become slippery, swampy, and challenging to navigate.